OKLAHOMA CITY – Head Coach Josh Gamblin challenged his team to come out ready to play on Monday night with the NAIA #7 University of Science & Arts Drovers on the schedule. The Evangels, led by senior Jordan Rhodes, took his challenge to heart, and at the end of the night, MACU had earned a critical win in SAC play.

Rhodes poured in a career-high 32 points – seven points more than his previous career best – and the Evangels had all five starters in double figures as the Evangels (15-10, 9-8 SAC) upset the #7 Drovers (19-7, 10-7 SAC) 101-90.

MACU opened the game on a 12-4 run, but the Drovers responded as a top-10 team would be expected to respond, whittling away at the deficit and eventually claiming the 20-18 lead at the 12:28 mark. MACU came back and took a 4-point lead with an 8-2 run, but USAO came back with seven straight points as the game took on a back-and forth feel. Late in the half, MACU put together a 7-0 run, and the Evangels eventually pushed their lead to 47-39 at the break.

MACU kept the pressure on coming out of the break, going for the knockout early in the second frame, and Justin Bogle connected for three at the 15:15 mark of the second half to push the Evangels' lead to 62-47.

For the rest of the night, MACU was ready to answer any challenge from USAO, and each time the Drovers mounted a charge, MACU was able to snuff out the momentum. USAO cut the MACU lead to 10 several times, and with 6:08 to play, the Drovers got the deficit into single digits, but it did not stay there for long. Rhodes scored seven straight points over a span of 2:10 to give MACU a 16-point lead at 85-69. USAO mounted one final charge, but the Evangels went to work on the clock late, and MACU took the win 101-90.

Rhodes led all scorers with 32 points on 11-of-15 shooting. He also added seven rebounds and two steals. Keyshawn Perkins added his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 boards, Chinua Massena chipped in 13 points, Andre Horne added 12 markers and a team-best four assists, and Bogle scored 11. Javan Perry just missed double figures with nine points as well.

As a team, MACU made 32-of-60 (53.3%) shots in the game, and 11-of-27 (40.7%) 3-pointers. At the charity stripe, MACU was 26-for-32 (81.3%) in the game.

The Evangels will face another tough test on Thursday night when they welcome the #20 Wayland Baptist University Pioneers (18-7, 10-6 SAC) to the Gaulke Activity Center at 8 p.m.